Sunday, Central thought it lost by a point to North Attleboro, 69-68, in the EMass Division 2 Championships. But Monday the North Attleboro coach noticed a scoring error in his total and informed the meet director, resulting in North Attleboro’s point total dropping to 63 points and third place and awarding the title to the Raiders.

The fifth-year Windham High track program got its first ever divisional state title as Kenny Dastous, Mike McDade, Sam Kauhl, Brandon Dreyfuss won the Division 2 state title in 44.75. Shaun Howard of Sanborn moved to third all-time in the area with his winning throw of 183-1 in the javelin.

Haverhill's boys outscored Chelmsford 25-2 in the high jump, long jump and triple jump on their way to an 88-57 victory over Chelmsford. Gage Alicea won the high jump and was second in the triple jump and Bryam Discua was second in the long jump in addition to winning the 100 and 400.

LAWRENCE — Lawrence rolled past Methuen, 99-46, to complete a 4-0 dual meet season and clinch the MVC Small title. It was the Lancers' first crown since 2010.

"It's good for the city and the school to have some success," said first-year coach Bill Meuse. "These seniors have been great role models for the rest of the school for how success happens. Their competitiveness has been something special."

With the finish line just inches away and Wileshka Samuel running step-for-step with her opponent, the Methuen High sophomore let instincts kick in.
“I knew I had to just go for it,” said Samuel. “I look a leap of faith and it worked out.”
It was more of a lean of faith, but it certainly did work out for the rising star.
As Samuel and Sydney Fisher of Cambridge Rindge & Latin reached the finish line at the same moment, Samuel was able to lean forward just as she crossed the line to take a thrilling victory in 25.34, a hair ahead of Fisher’s 25.37, at the Andover Boosters meet yesterday afternoon.
“It just shows nothing is impossible,” said Samuel. “I just told myself that I wanted it so bad and had to do anything I could. I had to keep pushing until it was over and just gave it the lean at the end. I had no idea if I won, but I knew it was close. I was so happy when I found out.”
Doing it for coach
Andover High took the girls team title and the overall combined team crown, dedicating the victory to late Andover coaching legend Dick Collins, who passed away in February. Collins won more than 400 dual meets as head track coach at Andover, and more recently served as an assistant track coach — even helping out at 80-years-old, under current coach Peter Comeau.
Prior to the meet, a ceremony was held in Collins’ honor, which was attended by a large group of his family and friends.
“Before the meet we said we knew Coach Collins was looking down on us,” said Comeau. “We were not the favorites to win this meet, so to do it, I really feel like he was up there helping us. We wanted to win this for him.”
Falaras shocks meet, self
Seeded eighth in the shot put heading into the meet, North Andover’s Yanni Falaras admitted he was not expecting any gold medals.
“I sure didn’t think I was going to win,” said Falaras with a laugh. “My expectations were low. But on my first warm-up throw I felt so good and so relaxed. A lot of times I freak out at the big meets, but this was different.”
Falaras threw a career-high 52-11.5, good for the championship on the day.
“I felt so good and had a good grip on the shot,” he said. “I just let it fly. I love it. I was so excited to actually win.”
Johnson sets personal best
Central Catholic’s Erika Johnson was feeling a bit frustrated early on in the discus.
“I was a little sore and tired, my first few throws were around 84 (feet) and I was started to get worried,” said Johnson. “But them I calmed down and threw 114 (feet), and I knew I just had to do what I do.”
That was just the start for Johnson. She finished her day with a career-high discus throw of 117-0, easily taking first place ahead of No. 2 Kate Cowden of Wilmington (102-11).
It also crept Johnson closer to her ultimate goal of breaking the Central Catholic school record of 125-5.
“I had been throwing 110 for the last three meets and I felt stuck,” she said. “But after this I feel like I am reaching my goal.”
Relay dominance
A pair of relays ran to huge titles yesterday.
The 4x100 relay was taken by the Lawrence team of Jacob Toledo, Bryan Morales, Jose Adames and Kevin Flores in a blazing 42.32.
“It felt like heaven,” said Morales, who also won the 100 dash. “It was just beautiful to be out there and take it home. It was just wonderful.”
Adames noted that the Lancers had one goal in mind.
“We are going for first place every time,” he said. “That’s what we are here for, always.”
Meanwhile, the Andover girls 4x800 entered the day seeded ninth overall. But they set out to prove that wrong.
The team of Cate Donovan, Gwyneth Minor, Sarah Rothmann and Sophie Draper took gold going away in 9:53.97, far outdistancing No. 2 Newton South (10:00.40).
“You just have to forget where you are seeded because it doesn’t matter,” said Draper. “We showed what we could do it we worked together and give it our all.”
Naveed shines
Following the 400, a talented competitor in the race looked at a bystander and said it all.
“Wow,” said the athlete, “(Hamza) Naveed from Andover was amazing.”
Naveed delivered his best outing of the season yesterday, flying to the 400 title in 50.14.
“I was seeded second but I just knew I could win,” said Naveed. “I haven’t been running terribly well this season, so to show myself and everyone that I can still run a winning time means a lot. I really wanted this win.”
Lucky and great
With rain falling on the track early in yesterday’s meet, North Reading’s Cole Godzinski faced a difficult decision. Should she roll the dice with her lucky shoes, or play it safe?
“My lucky spikes are pretty slippery when it’s wet so I didn’t know what to wear,” said Godzinski. “But by coach assured me it would be OK so I wore much lucky ones and it worked out.”
That footwear choice proved to be the right one, as Godzinski ran to the 100 hurdles crown in 15.15
“Last year I lost (at Andover Boosters) by, like, a one-thousandth of a second, so I really wanted the plaque this year. I hadn’t run against competition this tough all year, so it was awesome to win.”

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